Herschel Museum of Astronomy — Attraction in Bath

For those with even the most casual interest in astronomy or science.. if you have an hour spare in central bath you are almost certainly within walking distance of this little gem hidden off the beaten track.. Spread over 3 floors and a small garden the museum is dedicated to the life and work or the Herschels, William best known for discovering infrared light and the planet Uranus and Caroline who was an accomplished astronomer in her own right and known to many for her work on comets. In the museum you will find several rooms covering the time the Hershels were in residence with numerous images and artifacts related to their story including their workshop downstairs, mirrors made by William and even one of his diaries and whole downstairs you can go out to the garden and stand in the spot where our understanding of the universe changed forever.. if you have the time and even the slightest interest.. go help out a...

Such a hidden gem! This little Museum was a big highlight of our trip and I would highly encourage you to visit. It's a little out of the way but totally worth it. They have essentially given access to the Herschels' home where the siblings discovered Uranus - it's therefore a very small and intimate Museum and gives you a great insight into how they lived and what journey they went through. We were greeted by a lovely host who was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome - before we started our journey around the home, he gave us a great introduction to the Herschel family which really helped put everything in perspective. On the lower ground they play a video which re-enacts the story as well using real-life actors which was great fun. The garden where they discovered Uranus is well-kept and accessible, which is rather special! Do give it a visit...even if it's just to keep this little Museum on...

As a keen amateur astronomer/astrophotographer, I was completely riveted by this museum. The Herschel family story has so many aspects of interest. The development of William's passion for the heavens, displacing musical career. His success as a young migrant into England from war-troubled Hanover, rising to be patronised by the King. Caroline's progress from little more than a skivvy to a phenomenally successful scientist, and recognised as such in a male dominated age. John's taking up the mantle and purpose of cataloguing the skies and adventuring down to South Africa with their superb (for the time) optical instruments. All this and so much more is chronicled in the most unpretentious way in the Herschel Museum. It should be a place of pilgrimage for anyone with a passion for space, but also a great place to have your mind expanded by these very homely intellectual giants from the...